House Brand Rotors/Drums

[buickman50401]

I went with white box rotors from O'Rielly when I did the front brakes on my Buick 15k mi ago. The set that was on there was within spec with no grooving but warped badly and those were OEM that were replaced at 50k mi (car has 120k on it).

I think the quality of the pad has much more to do these days with what kind of experience you're going to end up with. That being said, I just went with the O'Rielly premuium "performance" house brand pads. I also followed the break in proceedures listed in the instructions for them: take the vehilce up to highway speeds and then stop as quickly as possible without locking the tires/activating the ABS and repeat this cycle 10 times allowing for time for cool off between.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: Artem
Of course they will stock the house brand. They make WAAAAY more money selling those vs the competition. It makes sense.


I'm not in the business so I can't say with certainty, but I find it hard to believe there's much profit margin in selling $20-30 rotors or drums.


Think about it like this...

FOR EXAMPLE!

They sell brand X rotors for $20 and make $2
They sell their own brand for $20 and make $2 BUT their own sister company manufactured the parts and made a profit as well.

 

[charbaby]

Ya know, I have to say that unless I broke a drum trying to remove it due to stuck brakes and such, I have really never had to replace the drums themselves just because I happend to be doing rear brakes. Just the shoes, a few springs and maybe,(maybe) the adjuster and cylinder. And only the cylinder because I broke off the bleeder valve trying to bleed the rear(s).

Now, on the other hand, I have used may brands of rotors including house brand rotors. Often when doing the front brakes, should I have a rotor(OE) that has warped and maybe, just maybe I can save it and have it turned, I usually have to smak it with a dead blow or worst, a 4lb. hand sleadge to break it free rendering it now useless to be lathed/machined. So, to say the least, I buy new rotors which is usually what I have to do anyway!

I have had mild/reasonable success with house brand rotors meaning that, I have had some house brand rotors outlast the name brand rotors and other times, NOT!

Even if my rotors don't warp over time, they're so pitted/rusted due to all of the salt that we experience here in Upstate NY that they can't be saved.

MICHIGAN TOO I'LL BET!

 

[MarkM66]

I'd bet your drums are just fine.

If anything, check them before trashing them.

 

[Dartlover]

Well guys I would say what ever works the best for you and yours is the way to go.I myself go dealer,cash and carry of course or good name brand after market. As far as being just a chunk of metal thats pretty much all the same....not.
Just like your knife blade....you pretty much get what you pay for.All depends what you want to do with it and how long you want it to last.But if you have to give a little in that dept do go with a top notch pad or shoe.